Description:
"Very few artists can claim an album that represents a cultural reset. Konnichiwa was the culmination of Skepta’s decision to stop chasing the mainstream and make it come to him. After becoming disillusioned with the commercial direction of his music, Blacklisted began a shift that came fully into focus with “That’s Not Me.” Skepta returned to grime’s foundations, making music that he “and the mandem listen to in the whip.” Its £80 Tim & Barry video became a symbol of that creative realisation: proof grime did not need major-label budgets or industry approval to make an impact. Konnichiwa took that independence global. Executive produced and independently released by Skepta, it was unmistakably British: “I want anybody from around the world to be able to listen to the album and know it comes from London.”
While Konnichiwa was taking shape, Skepta was transforming the culture around it in real time. After releasing “Shutdown,” Skepta staged an unauthorised show in Shoreditch that felt less like a conventional gig than a declaration of intent. Grime was beginning to move with the self-sufficiency and disruption of punk, building momentum on its own terms and forcing its way into global spaces that had never made room for it. Skepta approached that expansion like a restart. In the US, he was performing in basketball courts and smaller spaces with the hunger of a newcomer, even as the rest of the world was beginning to catch up with what Britain already knew.
Ten years later, that philosophy finds a natural successor in CORTEIZ. Skepta’s “Tracksuit Mafia” turned everyday sportswear into a uniform and rejected fashion’s traditional gatekeepers: if the establishment would not represent them, they would represent themselves. CORTEIZ carries that same independent instinct forward, building from the UK without compromise and making the world come to it. The CORTEIZ x Skepta collaboration celebrating Konnichiwa connects two generations that made the world pay attention to LUNDUN on their own terms."
Words by DaMetalMessiahCredits:
Director: Dominic Barnes
Photographer: Seb Gallego
Producer: Johannes Sassay-Wada
Agency: OUT OF OFFICE & Actually Creative
Creative Director: Dominic Barnes & Lewis Levi
Art Director: Lily Ha
Stylist: Javel Berlin
Description:
Artist management, creative, marketing and release strategy for Joe James' deeply autobiographical album 'The Ends, Never Ends' released on Neighbourhood (Dave, Kamal.) and featuring Lancey Foux, Dave, Loyle Carner, Hak Baker and more.Joe has never been one for excess; he will release new music, physically retreat into nature and the outside world, think deeply and return with a reflection of his experiences. This is why other artists claim him as their best kept secret. With 'The Ends, Never Ends' the approach was always to let the music do the talking; a short pre-release campaign to move with urgency and let fan's self-discovery be its on reward.
Credits:
Agency: OUT OF OFFICE
Photographer: George Muncey
Director: Uncanny
Description:
Boy Better Know (BBK) is a London-based music collective and label founded in 2005 by JME, with core members including his brother Skepta, Frisco, Jammer, Shorty and DJ Maximum. At a time when Grime was still fighting for space in the UK mainstream, BBK stood out as one of the scene’s most self-sufficient forces, creating a blueprint for how independent artists could build careers and make money without relying on major labels.
They helped shape the sound of Grime through a steady stream of self-released mixtapes, albums and white labels, as well as some high profile clashes, but just as importantly, they shifted the business model. BBK embraced the DIY mentality that powered the early Grime scene, treating music like a startup and finding new ways to build and sell their identity in a scene with little industry infrastructure.
When JME first designed the BBK logo at university in 2005, it was only meant for the cover of his debut mixtape. A year later, he printed the first official t-shirts to take to a rave, with no real plan beyond seeing friends, family and fans repping the name.
Rather than rely on traditional music marketing, JME soon saw the shirts as a way to promote the BBK brand while generating income independently, much like their approach to releasing music without a major label. JME would design the shirts himself, sell them through MySpace and at raves, and even hand deliver them to fans. Before long, bootlegs started appearing, a clear sign the wave was spreading.
What started out as merch quickly became something much greater. The Boy Better Know logo evolved into an iconic symbol of Grime & UK street culture, worn by artists and fans alike, and instantly recognisable worldwide.
The success of Boy Better Know’s early merch set the tone for how independent Grime and UK rap artists approach branding today. They showed it was possible to move culture and make money on your own terms, cutting out the middlemen and the gatekeepers.
That same mindset is at the heart of the Boy Better Know and CORTEIZ collaboration: self-made, grassroots, LUNDUN to the core. From music to fashion, both BBK and CORTEIZ have built loyal followings by moving on their own terms. This collaboration brings together two generations of London creators who understand that sound, style and identity are all part of the same movement.
CORTEIZ has worked with BBK on an exclusive collection that features a Tracksuit, Shuku Set, Shorts, T-Shirts, Mesh Jersey and a BBK x CORTEIZ x New Era fitted cap.
Written by DaMetalMessiah
Credits:
Director: Jakub Libicki
Photographer: George Muncey
Creative Direction: Lewis Levi & Whizz
Art Direction: Elliott Elder
Production: Amelia Studios
Description:
Following our work on Saya Gray's QWERTY II EP in spring 2025 we partnered on the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled album, SAYA. One of the core objectives was creating a space for Saya to engage directly with fans away from social media for a more personalised engagement experience. By extension we pursued intimate high-end audio album playbacks hosted by Saya in London, Paris, Berlin, New York, Toronto and LA.
Description:
The inaugural LIDO Festival took place at Victoria Park in London. Each day curated by the headliner including Charli XCX, Jamie xx, Massive Attack, a partnership with Outbreak Festival presenting Turnstile and many more artists over two weekends in June. We worked with the team at AEG on creative and marketing to begin establishing LIDO's identity and communicate the philosophy behind this new festival.
Description:
All Points East Festival in East London has become an anticipated calendar fixture every year, bringing artists from all around the world. Artists in 2025 included RAYE, Chase & Status, Barry Can't Swim, Tyla, Cleo Sol, FKA twigs and more. OUT OF OFFICE joined the team at AEG to help develop the cultural presence of the festival and deliver creative marketing ideas to connect the artists with fans.
Description:
We worked with CRTZ and NIKE to create Da Manny Maze, a 1000 square foot maze in Manchester, offering fans a chance to win one of 100 exclusive CRTZ x NIKE Huaraches. Over 1000 participants navigated through the maze, which featured spray-painted artwork by Slawn, but only 72 completed it within the time limit to claim their prize.
To promote the event, we created a POV-style short film featuring Nemzzz and Chunky, capturing the excitement of the maze challenge and the moment of discovering the Huaraches.Credits:
Agency: OOO + Actually Creative
Production: Amelia Studios + 925
Build: 6AM Studio
Exec Producer: Jamie Glydon, Kayode Adelaja & Lewis Levi
Producer: Alice Ellis & Eloise Skeet
Photos by Seb Gellago
Description:
A drone show in London to announce the 2024 collaboration between Nike and Corteiz.
Credits:
Agency: OUT OF OFFICE + Actually Creative
Production Company: Amelia Studios
Exec Producers: Jamie Glydon, Lewis Levi and Kayode Adelaja
Producer: Eloise Skeet
Photographer: George Muncey
1st Assistant: Barney Arthur
Digi Op: Alex Gale
Drone Team: Celestial
Drone Videographer: Stem Studios
Description:
We collaborated closely with tendai on creative, marketing, and strategy for his debut full-length project, The Rain, released in August 2024.
Credits:
Creative Director: Lewis Levi + George Muncey
Art Director: Alex Rest
Production Company: 925
Description:
A bespoke butchers/slaughter house for the 21 Savage and Corteiz collaboration.
Credits:
Agency: OOO + Actually Creative
Production: 925 + Amelia Studios
Art Direction: 6AM Studio
Exec Producer: Jamie Glydon + Lewis Levi
Producer: Eloise Skeet + Maggie Curwin
Photos by Alistair McVeigh & Henry Goodfellow
Marketing and strategy for Sad Night Dynamite's debut album, Welcome The Night. Identifying and implementing the band's vision for the absurdity in our every day lives. Consultation on general release and live strategy from merch and product bundles through to in-stores and live announcements.
Moments throughout the campaign included buying a limousine mascot, AI as a central narrative with cloned voiceovers and artwork, a 10 week content storyline of a sugarmamma called Mrs Dior, establishment of the Family Is Forever fanclub with engagement through customised ReBirth certificates and the band's epilogue; the eventual demise of the limousine being crushed.
Description:
An event in Düsseldorf, Germany where 600+ people exchanged their German international and Bundesliga football shirts for a CRTZ football shirt ahead of the Euros 2024, with all collected football shirted later donated to charity.
Promo Video - Credits:
Director: THE REST
DOP: Brandon Quan
1st AC: Max Tuite
Producer: Maggie Curwin
Production Designer: Jade Rache
Production Company: 925
Graphic Design: George Smith
Agency: OOO + Actually CreativeWatch the full video here
Music Video - Credits:
Director: Tyrus
Producer: Maggie Curwin & Jamie Avis
Executive Producer: Lewis Levi + Aaron Wilson
Watch the full video here
Artwork - Credits:
Design: George Smith
Description:
An event in New York where 300 people exchanged their branded jeans for CRTZ denim, with all collected jeans later donated to local charities.
Credits:
Agency: OOO + Actually Creative
EP: Lewis Levi + Jamie Glydon
Producer: Eloise Skeet
Production Company: 925 + Amelia Studios
Art Director: Rusty SnyderRead GQ's article here
Description:
New Balance's commercial with Dave promoting the 1000SL model.
Credits:Director: UNCANNY
Creative Director: UNCANNY & Lewis Levi
Production: 925
Photos by Ewen Spencer
Description:
A commercial highlighting the varied pronunciations of the brand name and slogan, "CORTEIZ RULES THE WORLD" by individuals from around the world.
Credits:
Director: UNCANNY
DP: George Muncey
Producer: Maggie Curwin
Creative Director: Lewis Levi and George Muncey
Production Company: 925Watch the full video here
Release, audience and fanbase strategy consultation for Brutalismus 3000 around their Europaträume EP and Spring 2024 European tour.
Description:
Release strategy consultation for Fimiguerrero's much anticipated New World Order mixtape released on Lizzy Records in 2024.
Saya Gray's second instalment of her QWERTY series, released on Dirty Hit. The objective was identifying Saya's most engaged fans and super serving them with exclusive access, content, advance ticket sales, vinyl sales and more.
OUT OF OFFICE
